Abstract: Apparatus for displaying one of several backdrops for use in a photographic studio. The backdrop scenes are attached end to end to form a long web, one end of which is wound upon one shaft and the other end of which is attached to a second shaft. A roller weight is placed on the web between the two shafts. The shafts are motor driven, allowing automated scrolling of the different backdrop scenes and the lowering of the roller weight when the appropriate scene is found. A steering mechanism is attached to the web to ensure it is properly wound up upon the shaft each time. Optical and/or mechanical sensors detect the position of the web and a central processing unit is provided for automated movement of the web from one backdrop to another, as desired.

Abstract: Mirrors are formed in an environmentally compatible and substantially pollution-free manner by a sputtering process in which a transparent substrate such as glass has first sputtered upon it a primer layer and then a reflective layer of silver or other bright reflective metal. A barrier layer is provided over the reflective layer to protect the latter from corrosive environments. If the transmittance of the reflective layer is greater than zero percent, the barrier layer includes a different bright reflective metal sufficient to reduce the transmittance of the combined reflective and barrier layers to zero percent. The mirror includes a lead free polymeric protective layer spaced further from the transparent substrate than the barrier layer. The inclusion of zinc pigment in the polymeric coating provides sulfiding protection, and the use of an outer sputtered on film of zinc or zinc oxide provides substantial adhesion thereto of the polymeric coating.